The Paradox of Art

entry 2: to be or not to be.

≫Artistic: conforming to the standards of art

The definition of the word "artistic" is a contradiction in itself. As it imposes the idea of art conforming and that all artists conform. It sounds so wrong and misplaced as if the very definition is incorrect. Or maybe it's just a poor choice of words. Either way, it got me thinking.

Artists do not conform to what's normal and good art does not fit a standard.

So if good art doesn't fit a standard, wouldn't that be a standard? And does that therefore make bad art good art? In which case, all art is good art.

But that's nothing new, we've all heard the phrase "there is no such thing as bad art" at one point in time I'm sure of it. However, this raises the question (in my mind at least): what is art?